Fitting in running while on vacation can sometimes be a challenge particularly if your time is limited and sightseeing is your priority. So why not combine the two? There are running clubs that welcome visitors on their weekly runs, and a guided tour group that offers scenic run packages if you prefer something more organized.
Kiin Run Club – Paris
Instagram – DLSCHKsNRad
Facebook – we.are.kiin
Photography – Rony Wan
Fun, community, welcoming: that is how Maria Sanchez, founder of Kiin, describes this vibrant running club. Sanchez started the club in 2020 during COVID-19, as a way to make connections and bring together people from all walks of life. Boosted by social media, the club grew and now organizes two runs a week and partakes in races such as the Paris Marathon and Half-Marathon.
The name Kiin is derived from the English word kin (your tribe) and the Greek word kean (to move). Kiin: a safe space to meet up with your tribe and move together.
They meet Wednesdays at 7 a.m. for a seven-kilometre run and Sundays at 9 a.m. for 12 kilometres. All runs start at Le Peleton Café with routes that take in iconic landscapes such as the Marais and Seine River pathway, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and Ile Saint-Louis.
Visitors are welcome to join. Just show up!
All levels are welcome.
Retiro Running – Madrid
Instagram – retirorunning
Facebook – retirorunningmadrid
Photography – Manuel Méndez
Retiro Running takes its name from El Retiro Park, one of the largest city parks in Madrid and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is here on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. that this social run club meets.
The club was founded in 2021 by Manuel Méndez who wanted to foster a relaxed form of running while embracing camaraderie. The park is a perfect spot for the group to embark on various distances from five to 12 kilometres, exploring the 142-hectare site that features 150,000 trees, meandering paths, and a lake.
There are also organized runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the winter and 8 p.m. in the summer. The club also explores other areas of Madrid including the Paseo del Prado, a magnificent boulevard that is a highlight of artistic splendour, featuring the Prado Museum and the Neptune Fountain. In addition to running, the club organizes other sports and social events to embrace and foster an all-inclusive community.
DNA Running Collective – Berlin
Instagram – dedicationnattitude
Photography – Aaron McCammon
DNA’s weekly run motto is “Run for All.” On Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m., runners gather on Maybachufer in the district of Neukölln to run along the Landwehr Canal, one of the many iconic areas of Berlin.
DNA (Dedication N Attitude) is a multi-cultural club with over 18 nationalities represented, welcoming runners from all over the world. As one of the more diverse running clubs in Berlin, they run distances from five kilometres to marathons, welcoming both serious and casual runners.
Berlin’s running scene is vibrant and there is no shortage of notable districts and landmarks for the club to explore. The Tiergarten is a large urban park—and where the Berlin Marathon starts—with tree-lined streets and paths. The Berlin Wall Trail is a historical path, perfect for exploring the dramatic history of the city, and then there are the bridges, which the city is built around, connecting diverse neighbourhoods. With no membership fees, DNA’s philosophy is to be an all-inclusive club making running accessible to anyone.
London City Runners – London
Website – www.londoncityrunners.com
Instagram – Londoncityrunners
Photography – London City Runners
London features many famous landmarks and there is no better way to explore the U.K.’s capital city than by running on the River Thames pathway. That is exactly what the London City Runners (LCR) do every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
The club, founded in 2010, styles itself as a social hub in the city, attracting hundreds of runners over the years. The weekly river runs all start at the LCR Clubhouse on Druid Street, where everyone is encouraged to stay after the run for a drink.
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the runners head west along the pathway towards the Millennium Bridge for a six-and-a-half-kilometre run, Blackfriars Bridge for eight kilometres or Westminster Bridge for 11 kilometres. On Sundays, the route goes east with options for a 10- or 18-kilometre route that takes in Greenland Pier or Tower Bridge. There is no charge for the runs, but registering as a member on their website is encouraged. The club also has track nights and a “Couch to 5K” program.
Kirribilli Runners – Sydney
Website – www.kirribillirunners.org
Facebook – kirribillirunners
For 19 years, the Kirribilli Runners has been active on the Sydney running scene, hosting twice weekly runs and participating in community events. This free social run club welcomes runners of all ages and abilities as they pursue running goals and support local races.
Their name is derived from the Aboriginal word kiarabilli, meaning “good fishing spot.” On Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. they gather to run the KR Classic, a scenic six-kilometre route that starts at the Harbour Bridge and takes in the Cahill expressway, local tombstone art and the world-famous Sydney Opera House.
The run, suitable for all abilities, is followed by drinks at the Kirribilli Hotel and then pizza. On Mondays at 6:30 p.m., there is an intermediate training run of 10 kilometres—the KR10K—to Waterman’s Cove, Barangaroo, home of the world’s largest underwater living sea wall, preserved as a garden. The run starts and ends at the Harbour Bridge.
Midnight Runners – Worldwide
Website – www.midnightrunners.com
Instagram – midnightrunners
Photography – David Altabev
Want to incorporate a few burpees during your run … and run to music? Then the Midnight Runners could be your crew. Located in cities worldwide, this volunteer-led group puts the fun into every run.
Their runs are from five to 10 kilometres but are intermingled with bodyweight exercises designed so you can mix and mingle with fellow runners during the run. These bootcamp runs are all about bringing like-minded people together to get to know each other and the city they live in. Each run ends with a social event with dancing, music and more fun!
Midnight Runners are in 18 cities across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Latin America, and North America, with 240 “crew” captains and more than 10,000 members.
To find a city, check out their website which has a full list, then download their free app—Heylo—find the schedule, and book the event (recommended as they can sell out).
Parkrun – Worldwide
Website – www.parkrun.com
Instagram – parkrunuk
Photography – Joseph Camilleri
When looking for one of the greatest running club successes in the world, look no further than parkrun. In 2004, 13 runners started the concept of a free community run on a weekend with the aim of running five kilometres. Fast forward to 2025, and 22 countries and millions of participants get together weekly in what has become a global running phenomenon.
The non-competitive, volunteer-led initiative originated in Bushy Park, Teddington, U.K. with the simple “cookie-cutter concept” that could be easily replicated by other communities. From tabulating results on paper and using washers bought from hardware stores, a barcode results system was developed, which is now used by parkrun organizers.
Parkrun is free, but registration is required, and with a scannable barcode, participants can see their results and how they progress weekly. The parkrun website has a list of the countries with runs, so it is perfect for those travelling who want to join a group of like-minded individuals. Some communities also have a two-kilometre junior park run option for children.
November Project
Website – www.november-project.com
Facebook – novemberproject
Photography – Kim Ngo
If you find yourself in a city and want more than just a run, the November Project could be the challenge you are looking for. This “free fitness movement” is in 53 locations worldwide with over 3,000 members working out weekly. While the majority are in North America, there are groups in cities such as London, Hong Kong, and Sydney and others scattered in Eastern Europe and Asia.
The workouts depend on location, but in addition to running, exercises can include stairclimbing, hill repeats, jumping, cardio, core, and high intensity interval training (HIIT), all led by experienced leaders.
The groups all meet early weekday mornings (usually 6:30 a.m.) from one to three days a week. All abilities are welcome from the casual runner to marathoners and triathletes looking to fit in a weekly workout, no matter where they are. Locations are on the website with each group listing on social media where to meet. Just show up!
Go! Running Tours – Worldwide
Website – www.gorunningtours.com
Instagram – gorunningtours
Photography – Go! Running Tours
“Providing running experiences for runners that travel” is Go! Running Tours’ motto. With over 60 destinations worldwide and more added annually, Go! Running Tours offers travellers sightseeing runs led by local runners, who not only know the best running routes,
but who are knowledgeable about their city and what to see.
Tours include a five or 10-kilometre Ancient Athens Tour, an eight-kilometre Best Views Tour of Porto, Portugal, a 13-kilometre Architectural Tour in Tokyo, or a 10-kilometre Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Beach Sunrise Tour.
There is also a service called “Just Run” for those who are interested in the sightseeing runs but don’t want to stop as much because they are training for a race or just prefer continuous running. “Just Run” is offered in 30 cities with distances of seven, 10 or 21 kilometres.
Choices include a seven-kilometre run in Bangkok, 10-kilometre run in Buenos Aires, or a 21-kilometre run in London, all with local guides.
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